Canada plans to regulate the widespread sale of non-prescription hemp products

In the economically developed countries of the world, the issue of the over-the-counter use of the therapeutically active properties of hemp is actively raised, either in the form of raw materials obtained from technical hemp for therapeutic purposes, used for industrial purposes, or in the form of regulating the possibility of growing cannabis-free plant varieties with significant therapeutic potential by individuals.

Canadian health authorities say there is a huge demand for over-the-counter products that contain cannabis therapeutic elements with a trace of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In the event that a legal market for the use of therapeutic hemp is created in the country, most Canadian consumers want to use the above components of the plant for pain, as well as inflammation. The above statement comes from a recent study initiated by Health Canada. This state structure is considering the feasibility of introducing new rules for the sale of various groups of goods containing therapeutic elements of the hemp plant with significant potential for treatment, as well as recovery, and in this regard, invited Canadian citizens to take part in a special survey. The main purpose of the event was to assess the interest of citizens of the country in the use of non-prescription cannabinoid products used for industrial purposes (as food, food / dietary supplements, animal feed, cosmetics, etc.).

1104 answers to the questions formulated in a special questionnaire were collected. The questions posed were answered by representatives of the Canadian hemp industry, health and veterinary associations, but the direct consumers of hemp products constituted the majority of the respondents (684 people). Of these, 579 expressed interest in using hemp health products for "pain and inflammation problems (joint or back pain, arthritis, migraine or headaches)."

Most of the people surveyed chose more than one area of ​​interest for over-the-counter hemp products made from technical hemp, but with significant therapeutic benefits. Most of the respondents named stress, anxiety and depression as the reasons (253). Another popular choice is sleep problems.

“Overall, online consumer feedback has shown that they believe there is a strong demand for OTC herbal health products (containing therapeutically active elements of the plant) as hemp is considered an effective, low-risk natural alternative. compared to pharmaceuticals currently on the market, ”the report says. 

One of the goals of the survey was to find out "what over-the-counter products containing cannabis therapeutic elements would be interesting if such products were legally available in Canada." Most of the respondents (414) were interested in foods that could be taken orally - food, food / dietary supplements.

“Canadians are interested in the potential OTC therapeutic use of cannabis for purposes such as pain relief in humans and animals, without the need for oversight by a practitioner,” the report says.

Commentary of experts of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"

Canada currently only allows the sale of cannabinoid products through licensed psychoactive cannabis retailers in each province. In the event that the new rules are approved, the municipal authorities of individual administrative-territorial units of the country will be able to decide on the possibility of selling goods containing therapeutically active elements of the plant in pharmacies, veterinary clinics, pet stores, grocery stores, etc. ...

I would like to emphasize that, just like in Ukraine, the citizens of Canada prefer to use therapeutically active elements of the hemp plant without intermediaries in the form of pharmaceutical companies, earning thousands of percent of profit from the preparations they make. People who can count money prefer to obtain therapeutically active elements of the plant through food, food / dietary supplements, cosmetics, etc. Taking into account the mood of the citizens of the country, state structures at the initial stage carry out this kind of research (social, medical, financial) and only after that make any informed decisions. 

We focus the attention of our readers precisely on the fact that in economically developed countries of the world the question of the over-the-counter use of the therapeutically active properties of hemp is actively raised either in the form of raw materials obtained from technical hemp for therapeutic purposes used for industrial purposes, or in the form of regulating the possibility of growing cannabis-free varieties by individuals plants with significant therapeutic potential. It is on the above principles that the concept of amending the current regulatory framework is based, presented during the training of students of the 5th edition of Hemp University, presented by the specialists of the Hemp Consulting information and analytical platform, together with the specialized association of Ukrainian hemp growers.